diff --git a/backend/internal/core/services/all.go b/backend/internal/core/services/all.go
index 5147b8a..25e406e 100644
--- a/backend/internal/core/services/all.go
+++ b/backend/internal/core/services/all.go
@@ -8,17 +8,38 @@ type AllServices struct {
 	Items *ItemService
 }
 
-func New(repos *repo.AllRepos) *AllServices {
+type OptionsFunc func(*options)
+
+type options struct {
+	autoIncrementAssetID bool
+}
+
+func WithAutoIncrementAssetID(v bool) func(*options) {
+	return func(o *options) {
+		o.autoIncrementAssetID = v
+	}
+}
+
+func New(repos *repo.AllRepos, opts ...OptionsFunc) *AllServices {
 	if repos == nil {
 		panic("repos cannot be nil")
 	}
 
+	options := &options{
+		autoIncrementAssetID: true,
+	}
+
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		opt(options)
+	}
+
 	return &AllServices{
 		User:  &UserService{repos},
 		Group: &GroupService{repos},
 		Items: &ItemService{
-			repo: repos,
-			at:   attachmentTokens{},
+			repo:                 repos,
+			at:                   attachmentTokens{},
+			autoIncrementAssetID: options.autoIncrementAssetID,
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/backend/internal/core/services/service_items.go b/backend/internal/core/services/service_items.go
index 0541577..cd2a889 100644
--- a/backend/internal/core/services/service_items.go
+++ b/backend/internal/core/services/service_items.go
@@ -21,6 +21,21 @@ type ItemService struct {
 	// at is a map of tokens to attachment IDs. This is used to store the attachment ID
 	// for issued URLs
 	at attachmentTokens
+
+	autoIncrementAssetID bool
+}
+
+func (svc *ItemService) Create(ctx Context, item repo.ItemCreate) (repo.ItemOut, error) {
+	if svc.autoIncrementAssetID {
+		highest, err := svc.repo.Items.GetHighestAssetID(ctx, ctx.GID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return repo.ItemOut{}, err
+		}
+
+		item.AssetID = repo.AssetID(highest + 1)
+	}
+
+	return svc.repo.Items.Create(ctx, ctx.GID, item)
 }
 
 func (svc *ItemService) EnsureAssetID(ctx context.Context, GID uuid.UUID) (int, error) {
@@ -140,6 +155,14 @@ func (svc *ItemService) CsvImport(ctx context.Context, GID uuid.UUID, data [][]s
 		}
 	}
 
+	highest := repo.AssetID(-1)
+	if svc.autoIncrementAssetID {
+		highest, err = svc.repo.Items.GetHighestAssetID(ctx, GID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Create the items
 	var count int
 	for _, row := range loaded {
@@ -165,13 +188,20 @@ func (svc *ItemService) CsvImport(ctx context.Context, GID uuid.UUID, data [][]s
 			Str("location", row.Location).
 			Msgf("Creating Item: %s", row.Item.Name)
 
-		result, err := svc.repo.Items.Create(ctx, GID, repo.ItemCreate{
+		data := repo.ItemCreate{
 			ImportRef:   row.Item.ImportRef,
 			Name:        row.Item.Name,
 			Description: row.Item.Description,
 			LabelIDs:    labelIDs,
 			LocationID:  locationID,
-		})
+		}
+
+		if svc.autoIncrementAssetID {
+			highest++
+			data.AssetID = highest
+		}
+
+		result, err := svc.repo.Items.Create(ctx, GID, data)
 
 		if err != nil {
 			return count, err
diff --git a/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go b/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go
index e983abf..6c12287 100644
--- a/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go
+++ b/backend/internal/data/repo/repo_items.go
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ type (
 		ParentID    uuid.UUID `json:"parentId" extensions:"x-nullable"`
 		Name        string    `json:"name"`
 		Description string    `json:"description"`
+		AssetID     AssetID   `json:"-"`
 
 		// Edges
 		LocationID uuid.UUID   `json:"locationId"`
@@ -431,7 +432,8 @@ func (e *ItemsRepository) Create(ctx context.Context, gid uuid.UUID, data ItemCr
 		SetName(data.Name).
 		SetDescription(data.Description).
 		SetGroupID(gid).
-		SetLocationID(data.LocationID)
+		SetLocationID(data.LocationID).
+		SetAssetID(int(data.AssetID))
 
 	if data.LabelIDs != nil && len(data.LabelIDs) > 0 {
 		q.AddLabelIDs(data.LabelIDs...)